Automated broadcast programmer

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an automated system for use in radio broadcasting which enables programming to function automatically when live broadcasting cannot be scheduled. The system is characterized by a feedback arrangement between various tape decks and a control unit whereby the condition of the decks is constantly being monitored to determine whether it has tape (i.e., is ready to play) as well as whether it is actually in play. The invention is further characterized by fail-safe circuitry to prevent the system from going off the air.

D United States Patent 1 3,896,490

Rose et a1. July 22, 1975 [54] AUTOMATED BROADCAST 2,921,291 l/196OHembrooke 360/69 PROGRAMMER 3,169,773 2/1965 Redlich et a1.. 360/723,305,645 2/1967 Nisbet 360/71 [76] Inventors: Andrew M. Rose, 3655Prune Ridge Ave., Apt. 220, Santa Clara, Calif. 1 95051; Geoffrey L.Bryan, 6205 P Primary Examiner-Alfred H. Eddleman Rd., Bethesda, Md.20034 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rene A. Kuypers [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1974Related US. Application Data [63] Continuationdm an of Ser No 294 786Oct 4 ThlS invention relates to an automated system for use 1972abandoneg in radio broadcasting which enables programming to functionautomatically when live broadcasting cannot [52] US Cl 360/69. 360/27.360/71. be scheduled. The system is characterized by a feed- 360/72 backarrangement between various tape decks and a [51] lntcluncllb 15/02.G11b15/18. G11b27/22 control unit whereby the condition of the decks is [58]Field of Search 360/71 69 27 74 constantly being monitored to determinewhether it 360/12 TC 6 1 5 has tape (i.e., is ready to play) as well aswhether it is 57 340/171 actually in play. The invention is furthercharacterized by fail-safe circuitry to prevent the system from going[56] References Cited Off the UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures 2,806,944 9/1957 Sheffield et a1 325/158 fi STOP aus t E EDECKSTOP 2 ll (STOP CONTROL BUS -HOLD BUS x 21 [3 I2 I I PLAY -MEMORY SENSE3:?

3a 3b 3c BUFFERJ (MAIN BUS B 5 SEQUENCE TAPE IIBYGEGSES SENSE f FDECKSTART START F GATE -START aus PATENTEDJUL22 I975 3, 896,499

SHEET 1 STOP GATEX -STOP BUS r '"l oecx STOP 2? i u sToP CONTROL BUSHOLD BUS X Ir i 3b l it 5 PLA MEMORY Y I SENSE i 7 4 L i 30 3b J BUFFERJMAlN BUS SE UENCE L??? 112 TAPE SENSE :aj -DECK START \START A GATESTART BUS IN 1 c Home *4: oun l l l l l fl yi m2 DECK 5 AUTOMATEDBROADCAST PROGRAMMER This is a continuation-in-part application ofcopending application Ser. No. 294,786 filed October 4, 1972, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates in general to the field of radio broadcasting and in particularto the field of automated radio broadcasting without live announcing.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the investigation of various priorart commercial automated broadcasting systems using tape machines, ithas been discovered that most of these systems do not provide adequatesafeguards to minimize against the possibilities of dead air. Automatedbroadcast systems of the type being discussed provide for automaticsequencing between a plurality of tape decks after every three-minutemusical selection as well as for periodic taped announcements, forexample, every minutes, from a tape cartridge deck. One of theshortcomings of the known prior art systems is that when it is ready tosequence or initiate a second tape deck after the completion of themusical selection from the first deck and the second deck is per chanceout of tape, a stop command is generated to cause the system to go offthe air. Since a radio station is conventionally a business enterprise,the above-described dead air occurrence is not beneficial to thecommercial interests of the station.

Another recognized shortcoming of known prior art automatic tape decksequence systems utilized in automated broadcast stations resides in thereliance placed by these systems on silence sensors. Silence sensors areutilized to detect the presence of audio. The silence detector, which isalways active, is designed to initiate a second tape deck uponencountering a specified time of no audio-output from a first tape deck.However, the use of silence detection is not an entirely satisfactoryarrangement since it might sequence the second tape deck afterencountering a long, soft passage of music. The triggering of the seconddeck by the silence detector might occur in the middle of a musicalselection which is a source of annoyance to the listeners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the automated broadcast programmer of theinstant invention a fail-safe system has been devised to provide nearlycontinuous, uninterrupted 24 hour a day operation by constantlymonitoring the status of each one of a plurality of tape machines. Tapemachine as defined herein is meant to include reel-to-reel and cassettetape transports as well as tape cartridge transports, the latter playingendless contained tape loops. The tape machines are constantly monitoredby means of a feedback arrangement which provides status informationconcerning the machines. The status information signals provided by thefeedback are first, whether the respective machine is in the reproducingor play mode and second, whether the machine has recorded information(i.e., tape) for reproducing. These feedback signals are returned to acontroller, which electronically processes these signals and issuescommands based on the type of status signal received.

The controllers commands upon processing the feedback signals providecertain fail-safe operations to assure continuous operation of thebroadcast station.

Thus in the event that a tape machine runs out of tape due to breakage,the controller will by-pass this deck and will prevent the system fromtrying to start this outof-tape deck.

The controller also provides fail-safe circuitry which prevents morethan one tape deck from running at one time. The circuitry utilized inthe controller to achieve this fail-safe result comprises a memoryarrangement, which is associated with each tape deck. Each respectivememory remembers whether its deck has been in play or not. Accordingly,when two decks are accidentally put into play a stop control signal isgenerated by the controller to stop the tape deck whose memory indicatesthat it was first in play.

Fail-safe circuitry is additionally provided to ni ake sure that amachine is running at all times. Thus, if none of the machines issending a feedback reproducing or play signal to the controller, thecontroller produces a signal to start the machine next in the desiredsequence.

The controller of the instant invention also provides circu try suchthat if the automated system is not successful in getting the nextmachine in the sequence to start playing, thedeck that was previouslyrunning will continue to runi This is accomplished by the controllercircuitry which realizes that it has not succeeded in starting the nexttape machine in sequence because no feedback play signal is beingreceived. Therefore, the previous deck will remain in the play mode toprevent a dead air situation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts several tape deckswhich are coupled together in an automated broadcast programmer andwherein the logic associated with one such tape deck is shown.

FIG. 2 depicts additional logic circuitry, which is utilized with a cartdeck, as well as the logic utilized for a deck simulator and simulatorinterface.

FIG. 3 shows the logic circuitry which generates the various bussignals.

FIG. 4 represents a timing chart which is utilized with the deck andcart logic of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second timing chart which is employed with thesimulator and simulator interface of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to FIG.1, there are illustrated two decks 20 and 30 as well as the logiccircuitry for the controller for a third deck (not shown). The thirddeck associated with deck 1 is not shown in order to simplify thedrawing. Although the instant invention will be described with respectto decks which play audio tape for an automated radio station, it willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can bemodified for use with tape using a video frequency or recording, as wellas decks using photographic images. The tape decks, which are utilizedin a desired sequence, and a cart deck, which is inserted as desired inthe sequence for playing station identifications (i.d.s), commercials,and public service announcements (p.s.a.s), are utilized in a broadcastautomation system to allow a radio station to operate without attendingpersonnel.

Decks 1, 2 and 3 are conventional reel-to-reel tape decks which areinterconnected to one another for sequencing as desired by the broadcaststation operator. As an example, the pre-recorded tape on eachrespective deck may be characterized by a different music style.Accordingly, after each playing of a three minute semi-classicalselection starting on deck 1, for example, the automated system issequenced or switched to deck 2, which may have Broadway show tunes,after which selection there is automatic transfer to deck 3 which mayhave pop songs. Although the invention is being described with respectto three decks, it should be understood that as many decks may be usedas is required to lend variety and prevent tedium to the listeningaudience. Switching is initiated from deck 1, to deck 2, to deck 3 by a25 hertz tone which is pre-recorded on the tapes after each musicalselection. This aspect of the invention will be discussed in greaterdetail hereinafter.

The control logic shown in FIG. 1, utilized NAND type circuitry. Controllogic circuitry as shown associated with deck 1 is similarly providedfor each of the decks 2 and 3 but is not shown for purposes ofsimplicity. This means that when both input terminals to a logic elementare at a high (H) voltage level, its output will be at a low (L) voltagelevel. The H voltage level will be indicated by a black flag, whereas aL voltage level will be indicated by a white flag. Furthermore, the plussign inside the logic gate will indicate that the OR function is beingperformed by the gate, that is, when both or one of the input signals isL, the output will be H. On the other hand, the AND function shown by aperiod will be performed when all inputs are H and the resulting outputis L.

Considering now the logic of FIG. 1 in the quiescent state (i.e., withno decks or carts running), the circuitry is designed such that if thedeck has tape threaded thereon a H signal will be produced at the deckby a tape sensor (not shown), whereas, conversely, a L signal will begenerated by a lack of tape on the deck. For example, a broken tape on adeck will generate a L signal. These signals from the tape deckindicating the status of the tape are designed as tape sense signals andconstitute a feedback signal from the deck to the control logic orcontroller. The tape sense signal is generated from the deck by means ofa relay (not shown).

Similarly, another feedback signal identified as a play sense signal isgenerated from the deck indicating that the deck is in the play mode.The play sense signal on the deck is generated from the tape drivesolenoid (not shown). The play sense signal is applied to the baseelectrode 21 of transistor X and the tape sense signal is applied to thebase element 22 of transistor Y.

In the quiescent state therefore, the feedback signal applied to thebase 21 of transistor X will be L and the signal applied to the base oftransistor Y will be H. In other words, the decks not being in play, theplay sense signal will be L, whereas the decks are assumed to have tapeand accordingly, this feedback signal is H. In view of the L signalapplied to the base element 21, transistor X is made non-conducting andthe H input to the one-input NAND gate 12 causes its output to become L.

The H input applied to the base of transistor Y causes it to becomeconductive presuming that switch 2 is activated in the upward position.Therefore, a L signal will be applied to NAND gate 8 and its output willbe H, which is in turn applied to NAND gate 10 as well as to NAND gate9. One of the input terminals of gate 10 operating in the AND mode,going L causes its output to go H. The H output of gate 10 is applied tothe deck 1 start terminal. This terminal must be L to start deck 1. Itshould be noted that in the quiescent state, the input signals appliedto gates 7 and 10 are such that they are in an indeterminate state.

Returning again to gate 12, it was observed that the L output ofinverter 12 is applied as an input signal to the buffer and inparticular to NAND gates 1 and 2 causing their respective outputs to goH. The output of gate 2 is applied to the stop control bus. The H outstate of gate 1 is applied to consecutive inverters 3a, 3b and 3ccausing the latters output to go H. Since a L signal is applied to theinput of NAND gate 4, its output will go H.

The NAND gates 5 and 6 are interconnected to one another to form abi-stable flip-flop or memory device. In the quiescent state, only oneinput to the respective gates 5 and 6 are 1-! whereas the second inputterminal cannot be determined, therefore, causing the memory to be in aindeterminate state. The stop bus during the quiescent state is Lcausing the output of NAND gate 11 to go H. This output signal comprisesthe deck 1 stop signal. This signal must be L to enable a deck to bestopped.

Let it now be assumed that one of the decks (deck 1) is put intooperation or initiates playing a musical selection lasting threeminutes. This will be identified as the play or reproduction mode. Inthe play mode, the play and tape sense signals applied to the respectivebase terminals of respective transistors X and Y will be H. Thesesignals can be viewed at the extreme left hand side of the timing chartshown in FIG. 4. It can be seen from the timing chart of FIG. 4 thatinitially decks 2 and 3 have tape indicated by the H signal but are notin the play mode as indicated by the L signal. Similarly, the cartmachine is not in the play mode indicated by the L signal, whereas thetape/ready signal is H indicated that tape is present in the machine.

Therefore, when deck 1 is initially put in the play mode, the output ofinverter 12 is H caused by transistor X being made active. This H signalis applied simultaneously to NAND gates 1 and 2. The hold bus is also Hat this time as seen in FIG. 4(n). The hold bus is L only under twoconditions: (a) no tape decks have been running, and (b) when a tapedeck is being started. The third H input to NAND gate 1 arises from theNAND gate 4. This H input signal results from the H output of gate 1during the quiescent state which becomes a L signal after being appliedto the consecutive inverters 3a, 3b and 3c. The L pulse applied to theNAND gate 4 operating as an OR function causes its output to go Hthereby making all inputs to the NAND gate 1 functioning as an AND to beH and its output to revert to the L state. The L output of gate 1 iscontinually applied as one of the inputs to gate 4 whereas its secondinput is H after passing through inverters 3a, 3b and 3c.

However, the L output of gate 1 applied to gate 4 keeps the bufferlocked into this output state. It should be noted that the output ofinverter 3b is the main bus output and is L at this point in time asseen in FIG. 4(m). The output of gate 3b is simultaneously applied tosimilar points in the logic circuitry for the other two decks.

The L output signal produced by gate 1 is applied to the S (set) inputterminal of the bi-stable flip-flop memory gate 5. The L input to NANDgate 5 operating as an OR gate causes its output to go H. At this time,both inputs to gate 6 are H so that a second L input is also applied togate 5. The setting or H output signal of gate 5 of the memory as justdescribed is shown in FIG. 40'). The tape sense feedback signal is alsoH at this time as seen in FIG. 4(g). It can accordingly be appreciatedthat when deck 1 is put into the play mode. its associated memory willbecome set. The memories associated with decks 2 and 3 will be re-set aswell be described at a later time.

During this time the stop bus will be L (see FIG. 4(p) so that theoutput of the stop gate 11 will be H. This signal is applied to theon-off control of deck 1. This signal must be L to stop deck 1. Alsoduring this time the L output state of the transistor Y collector isapplied as one of the inputs of gate 8. Since the latter gate 8 operatesin the AND mode, its output is H. This H is applied to gate and as oneinput to gate 9. The L output of gate 6 is applied as the other input togate 9. Since gate 9 is operating in the OR mode and has at least one Linput, it will produce a H. Assuming that switch Z is poled to activatethe upward contact, the H output of sequence output gate 9 is applied toterminal A of the sequence switch associated with deck 2. This H signalwill be applied to the next decks logic. The start gate 10 is enabled bya H input signal from the sequence input, the deck start bus and a Houtput signal from gate 8. Gate 8 is H when thereis a tape sense signalapplied to the base terminal of transistor Y or there is no sequence insignal. Since there is no sequence input signal because deck 1 isrunning, the start gate 10 will not be enabled and its output will be H.

In operation, the system is now ready to be switched from deck 1 to deck2. The reason for this change is that the three minute musical selectionbeing played on deck 1 is finished and the second tape deck with adifferent type of music selection is to follow the first selection. Thereason for this switching of tape decks is to give the listener avariety of music and change of pace.

After the first-mentioned musical selection is completed, a hertz toneis produced from the deck 1 tape and is identified on the timing chart(see FIG. 4(a). The start bus immediately reverts to the H state for thelength of the tone (see FIG. 4(a). Therefore, the gate 10 associatedwith deck 2 will have its output revert to the L state since all of itsinputs are now H, one input is the sequence input coming from switch Zof deck ls logic; one coming from the start bus; and the third from gate8 in the logic for deck 2, which is H since deck 2 has tape, therebycausing the next machine (i.e., deck 2) to be started. It should benoted hereat that the timing chart indicates just prior to thegeneration of the tone signal that a tape sense feedback signal (seeFIG. 4g) from deck 2 is H indicating that the latter has tape threadedthereon, but the play sense feedback signal (see FIG. 4h) is Lindicating that deck 2 was not in play. However, after the generation ofthe 25 hertz signal, the play sense signal of deck 2 goes H, indicatingthat deck 2 is playing.

It can be readily seen from the timing chart that there is a conditionat this particular point in time wherein decks l and 2 are inoverlapping relationship. The following discussion will show how deck 1will be turned off and deck 2 will continue playing for the next threeminute interval. I

The play sense signal of deck 2 goes H as previously stated. It shouldbe noted hereat that the control circuitry being discussed is thatassociated with deck 2 and which is identical with the control circuitryof deck 1. Since this is true, the output of NANDgate l associated withdeck 2 will remain H when the play sense signal of deck 2 goes H sincethe output of NAND gate 4 is L as previously described. This resultsfrom the fact that both inputs to NAND gate 4 are H since the logicassociated with deck 1 is holding the main bus L and prior to the startof deck 2, gate 1 was H. Accordingly, the output of the stop controlsignalof the NAND gate 2 is L since both inputs are H. This L signal isshown in the timing chart (see FIG. 40) aid is applied indirectly to thecontrol circuitry of deck 1 to turn off the latter. Therefore, the playsense signal of deck 1 reverts to the L state as also seen on the timingchart (see FIG. 4]). It should be noted that the listener experiencesthe effect of the music fading away in deck 1 while the music from deck2 comes in. The transition is accordingly pleasant to the ear of thelistener.

It should be noted hereat that dotted lines are associated with the playsense signal of decks l and 2. With respect to deck 1, the dotted lineindicates that even though the play sense signal reverts to a L state,the bistable flip-flop still remains set or H for a short period oftime. Similarly, the play sense signal of deck 2 is shown to revert tothe H state although its associated flip-flop still remains in its L orunset condition. It will now be shown how the respective decks l and 2flipflops are respectively reset and set.

It will be recalled that the main bus was L since deck 1 was in play andno other deck was running. In addition, since deck 1 has ceased to play,the main bus went H (see FIG. 4m). With respect to the control circuitryof deck 2, the main bus goes H and after inversion by inverter 30 isapplied as a L signal to NAND gate 4. This L signal causes gate 4 toswitch to the H state. This H signal is applied to both gates l and 6.Since NAND gate 1 inputs are now all H, its output becomes L and isapplied as a signal to memory gate 5. The output of gate 5 goes H and isfed into the second input of gate 6. The output of gate 6 thereforereverts to H state and the memory is accordingly set. The dotted lineassociated with deck 2 shows that flip-flop reverts to the H stateshortly after the play signal goes H. In the manner previously describedwith respect to deck 1, the main bus will revert to the L state sincedeck 2s gate 1 is L see FIG. 4m).

Similarly, the flip-flop associated with deck 1 is re-set since when itsplay sense feedback signal goes L, the output of NAND gate 1 goes Hwhich is applied as one of the inputs to OR gate 5. The H output of gate1 is also applied to gate 4. The second input to gate 4 is applied fromthe main bus signal. Therefore, the output of gate 4 is L which causesgate 6 to go H. With either inputs of gate 5 being H its output is L andtherefore the flip-flop is re-set. This is shown by the dotted line ofthe play sense signal of deck 1 switching to the L state. This re-set ofthe memory operation similarly occurs in all other situations where themain bus is L and the associated gate 1 is H.

The operation of the above-described logic circuitry operates in thesame manner when the three-minute selection has been played on deck 2and transfer is to be made to deck 3. The selections on deck 2 might beof a semi-classical nature and those on deck 3 might be of show tunes.The transfer is initiated inthe manner above described with thegeneration of the 25 hertz tone signal. The operation may be viewed andunderstood by referring to the appropriate section of the timing chart.Similarly, after the playing of the selection on tape 3, the operationof the control unit transfer back to tape 1 as seen in the timing chart.

At various time periods in an automated broadcast station, for example,every l5 minutes, various public service announcements are to be playedbetween the music selections. The public service announcements arerecorded on tape and will be played on a cart ma chine. The cart machineis similar to a deck machine except that the tape that is utilized doesnot employ a 25 hertz tone signal. The cart machine is self stopping.

Therefore, in the operation of the instant invention let us assume thatafter the playing of a three-minute selection on deck 1, transfer is tobe made to the cart for the playing of a special public serviceannouncement. The cart cycle is initiated by the interrupt signalgenerated by a time clock (see FIG. 4b). The time clock will cause aninterrupt signal, for example, at thirteen minutes after the hour.During the interrupt signal, the tone (see FIG. 4a) and cart startsignals (see FIG. 4d) are also generated. These two signals cause thecart to start the desired ID announcement. It should be noted from thetiming chart that the deck start bus signal (see FIG. 4c) remains Lduring this period of operation. During this cycle of operation, deck 1is still running and must be turned off. This is accomplished in thefollowing manner by referring to FIG. 2.

At intervals during the normal operation of the system it is desirableto be able to make special recorded announcements, whether they ask thelegally required station identifications, commercials, or any of anumber of similar items. This material is contained ona tape cartridge,commonly referred to as a cart, and played back on a specially designedtape machine, known as a tape cartridge machine, or, more simply, as acart machine. These carts contain an endless loop of tape which, if theloop were opened, lasts from a few seconds up to thirty minutes. Thus,the material of interest recorded on a cart may be of any length up tothe limit placed by the amount of tape actually in the cart loop. Thecart machine is started by a momentarily applied command, similar to theabove discussed tape decks. Stopping is done automatically by the cartmachine itself when it goes completely through the loop once and reachesthe beginning of the recorded data. This is referred to as recueing anda cart in this state is said to be cued. Thus, every time the cart isstarted it will instantly reproduce the recorded information withoutrequiring any external cue commnds, unlike standard tape decks.

Under normal operation of the invention, the control device sequences inthe previously described manner between the tape decks. Upon anexternally produced level, generated by a timer, the normal sequence ofdecks is interrupted and the cart machine becomes the machine which willbe started by the next tone. After the cart start command is (see FIG.4d) removed from the cart machine, this level returns L and the sequencereverts back to the decks, with a deck being started by the first toneafter the level is L. This externally produced level is known as theinterrupt signal (see FIG. 4b, deck 1 to cart.)

By going H, the interrupt signal causes there to be no other change inthe status of the entire system except to alter what machine will bestarted next. In the event that a tone is present, causing a deck startcommand to be given to a deck, the interrupt signal is blocked until thetone ends, as will be discussed later. If this blockage were not in thecontroller, two machines would be started by the one tone, one a deckand the other a cart machine. This would occur because the interruptsignal would switch a start command from a deck to the cart while thisstart command was present. With the blockage that is included in thecontroller the interrupt signal is allowed to switch only to that devicewhich the next tone will cause to be started. Thus, the circuitryassures that only one start bus will be active at a time, and the statesof the buses cannot be reversed during the presence of a tone.

The cart logic section determines if a tape deck is to be stopped; thatis, whether a stop command is to be generated by the deck logic unit atthe end of a tone signal. This determination must be made because it isunnecessary to cause a stop command to be sent to a cart machine; itwill stop automatically, independent of any tone signal.

When a cart is being started by a tone signal coming from a tape deck,it is necessary for the deck logic unit for that deck to generate a stopcommand for that deck. However, when a tape deck is being started by acart machine, no stop commands are to be generated, despite the factthat a tone signal will be produced by the cart. This tone signal merelyindicates that it is time for the next device to be started, but it doesnot imply that the cart should be stopped when the tone signal ceases.As stated above, the cart machine will independently determine theproper point at which to stop itself.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the logic circuit for the cart machine isdepicted and it is observed that prior to the start of the cart machinethe main bus is L. This is applied to inverter gate 13 producing a Houtput. This H signal is one of the two signals applied to the two-inputNAND gate 15. The other input to gate 15 is the output of gate 16. Sincethe cart machine is not in play, inverter gate 14 has a H input and a Loutput. This L output is applied as an input to gate 16 and gate 17. Asin-' dicated on the logic circuit, gate 16 produces a L when both itsinputs are H. In all other cases, the output is H. Gate 14 applies a Lsignal to an input to gate 16, which therefore forces the output gate 16to be H. This resulting H is applied as the second input to gate 15.Since neither of the inputs to gate 15 is L, the output of this gategoes L. This L is in turn fed back to the remaining input to gate 16,forcing the output of gate 16 H regardless of the level applied to theother input to gate 16. Thus, since gate 16 cannot go L until gate 15goes H, the output of gate 15 cannot change until the main bus changesstate. The main bus will not change from a L to a until the deck with aset memory is stopped (see FIG. 4m).

When the cart is started, a L signal is applied to inverter 14 causingit in turn to output a H signal. As just mentioned, this H signal willproduce no change in the state of gate 16 because gate 15 outputting a Lsignal keeps the output of gate 16 H. Gate 17 is also a twinput NANDgate with one input coming from the now H output of gate 16. The otherinput to gate 17 is the output of gate 14, which was L before the cartwas started. With two H inputs, the output of gate 17 goes L. This L isindirectly applied to the stop bus through gates 29 and 31.

Gate 29 is a two-input NAND gate. One input comes from gate 17 while theother comes from the simulator gate 27, which is presently H for reasonsto be discussed below. As indicated, gate 29 will produce a H output ifeither of its inputs goes L. Therefore, when gate 17 has a L output,gate 29 creates a H signal. Gate 31 is an inverter with its output tiedto the stop control bus and input coming from gate 29. When gate 29creates a H signal, gate 31 will produce a L output and, as a result,the stop control bus goes L (see FIG. 40). As discussed previously, whenthe tone ends, the L stop control bus will cause the operating tape deckto be stopped. Only one deck is running because no deck start signalappeared on the deck start bus (see FIG. 4c.)

When the deck stops, the main bus goes H (see FIG. 4m) and remains Hindefinitely since no decks are operating. Inverter gate 13 now createsa L signal since its input has gone H. With a L input applied to one ofits inputs, gate 15 generates a H signal. This H signal goes to gate 16.Now both inputs to gate 16 are H since gate 15 is H and the cart machineis in the play mode, therefore gate 16 produces a L output. This Loutput is applied to both gate 17 and to gate 15. Since both inputs togate 17 are not H, the output of gate 17 must revert to a H level, whichis applied to gate 29 and in turn to gate 31 and the stop control bus.

With two H inputs gate 29 must drop its output L and gate 31 will nolonger generate a L. The inverted output of gate 30 no longer holds thestop control bus L (see FIG. 40). At this point it can be seen that thestop control bus is formed by connecting the outputs of a number ofgates to one common point. This wired-or configuration will produce a Lsignal at the common point if either the first gate or the second gateor etc., up to the total number of common gates, output a L. If none ofthe gates is generating a L, the common point is pulled H. The main busswitches state in the same manner because it is also in the wired-orconfiguration.

The L output of gate 16 is also fed back as an input to gate 15. Gate 15will continue to produce a H as long as gate 16 generates a L,regardless of the states of the main bus and gate 13. Thus, when thenext tone causes a deck to be started, eventually resulting in the mainbus going L, the states of the gates in the cart logic section, exceptfor gate 13, do not change and no stop control signal will be generatedby them. When the cart machine automatically stops itself, the state ofthe gates will then, and only then, revert to their originally describedstate. If the interrupt signal goes H before the cart machine stops andif a tone signal is also produced,

the interrupt signal is automatically taken L by the tone and the systemwill operate as if the interrupt signal had never gone H. This will alsooccur if no cart is in the cart machine and a tone signal occurs.

Under certain situations it is desirable to have the control device stopthe operation of all machines upon the end of normal sequencing tone. Toaccomplish this, the device contains a simulator and interfacecircuitry.

Upon an external, operator-produced signal, the simulator becomes thenext machine in the sequence. The first tone produced after this willput the simulator into play. If a tape deck produces this tone, the stopcontrol bus is activated, because two machines are in play. Theoperation of the controller under this condition is identical to thepreviously described deck to cart sequence. With gate 25 producing a Lsignal, gate 26 remaining H and gate 27 generating a L to the now H gate29 and L producing gate 31 until the deck stops. In the event that acart is playing, the output of gate 27 with appropriate consequences ongates 29 and 31 remains H and thus no stop control signal is generated.When neither the cart machine nor a deck is running, gate 26 switches Land remains L, holding gates 25 and 27 H as long as the simulator is inplay.

In the event that the cart produced the tone, no stop commands will beissued since the tone producing device is self-stopping.

The simulator is stopped as soon as a deck or the cart is restarted.When gate 26 has control of the system and gate 25 is thereby forced togenerate a H output, one input to gate 23 is H. As soon as a deck or acart is started, placing a H signal as an input to gate 25 and the startcommand ends the other inputs to gate 23 go H and gate 23 generates astop command to the simulator until the simulator stops and gate 25switches state.

This restarting can be accomplished by either directly operating amachine or by activating the tone detector. In the second case themachine which the controller will start will be the machine which wasscheduled to go next prior to the readying of the simulator. To preventthe starting of two machines during the presence of a tone, thesimulator will not become the next machine during the presence of a tonein a manner similar to the blockage of the interrupt signal. Thus, if atone is being detected and the operator attempts to cause the simulatorto be next, the circuit will ignore the operator command and willcomplete the sequencing that is in progress.

A certain special signal must be generated when the controller starts atape deck after a cart has been played, after the simulator has been incontrol or any time no deck was in the play mode prior to thecommencement of the starting of a deck.

As was discussed previously, the next tape deck that will receive astart command is the first tape deck with tape which is in sequenceafter the deck with the set memory. Also mentioned earlier was the factthat a tape deck is permitted to set its memory whenever the deck is inplay and either the main bus is H or the main bus is being held L by thesame deck. This means that a deck can set its memory any time it is inplay and no other deck has been or is still in play. Since memories arecleared only when the main bus is L, the memory of the last deck whichwas running remains set after sequencing to a cart or to the simulator.Upon the next tone (see FIG. 4a, cart to deck 2 and FIG. 5a, simulatorto deck 3) a deck start command signal is generated on the deck startbus (see FIG. 4c and FIG. 50). The fact that no deck was running andthat a deck is being started causes the hold bus to go L. This busoriginates at gate 28. Gate 28 produces a L output whenever the main busis H and the deck start bus is H. The state of the main bus is invertedby gate 13 and again by gate 19. Thus, the output of gate 19 is the samestate as the main bus. Gate 19 has its output tied directly to one ofthe inputs to gate 28 while the deck start bus goes directly into theother input causing the hold bus to perform in the described manner.

The hold bus is an input to the gate 1 shown in FIG. 1. Each deck has asimilar gate and the hold bus signal is also applied to these gates.When the hold bus is L, the output of all three gates are held H andnone of the decks can set a memory or take the main bus L. However, thedeck which was started will generate a stop control signal. Since theother condition for the generation of a stop signal is that there be notone present, no unwanted stop command will be produced since the holdbus goes H when the tone ends allowing the deck which was started to setits memory and eliminating the stop control signal. Therefore, the stopcontrol bus is L until he tone ends, at which time it reverts to the Hstate. Since no action is taken due to a L stop control bus unless thisbus is L when there is no tone, the circuit produces a stop controlsignal which causes no action. There is a reason for not defeating thestop control signal in this situation which will be discussed later.

If the hold bus did not exist, the first tone after a no deck playingsituation would start two decks and, upon the completion of the tone,stop the first deck started.

When the tone starts, the first deck in the sequence with tape after thedeck with the set memory, which is not running at this point, will bestarted. Without the hold bus, the newly started deck would be allowedto set its memory because there would be no other deck setting itsmemory. As soon as this new memory was set, the sequence line to thenext deck would go H. Since the tone is still present, the next deckwith tape after the newly started deck would also be started. When thetone ended the deck which would have been the only one running would bestopped, because the controller would have reached a state exactlyequivalent to that achieved when it is sequencing between two decks.Thus, the hold bus is necessary to hold the state of all the memoriesconstant until the tone ends. Once the tone ends, the start bus is L andno deck will be started. Therefore, it is a safe time to allow thememoties to change.

Gates 33, 34 and 35 are all two-input NAND gates which, after theiroutputs are inverted by gates 36, 37 and 38 respectively, form, inorder, the deck start bus, the cart start bus, and the stop bus. Ingeneral terms, one input to each gate is an output from control logicwhich causes the gate to become active under the correct conditions ofthe tone signal, which controls the second inputs in the desired manner.

The tone signal will be L when there is no tone. This L is inverted to aH by gate 39. This H signal is applied as an input to gates 40 and 35.As indicated on the logic circuit, gate 35 is a two-input NAND gate withthe active state occurring with both the first and the second inputs H.The second input to gate 35 is the output of the inverter gate 44 whichis H when the stop control bus goes L. This occurs since the input togate 44 is the stop control bus. Therefore, when there is no tonepresent and the stop control bus is L, gate 35 has both inputs H andgenerates a L. This L is then inverted by gate 38 and causes the stopbus to go H, stopping a deck as previously described.

When gate 36 has a L input, it will generate a H and take the deck startbus H. The necessary L occurs only when both inputs to gate 33 are H.One of these inputs, which is simultaneously applied to gate 34 goes Hwhenever a machine is to be started. A machine will be started wheneverthe simulator is not next and a tone signal is generated. This signalgoes H whenever gate 42 generates a H. The other input to gate 33 comesfrom gate 43 and is the complement of the second input to gate 34. Thus,when gate 43 generates a H, this H will be directly applied as an inputto gate 33 and gate 45, while the latter inverts the H and applies a Lto gate 34. This action assures that gate 34 cannot have both inputsheld H whenever both inputs to gate 33 are H. It is also true that bothinputs to gate 33 cannot be H if both inputs to gate 34 are H. Since thecart start bus goes H when both inputs to gate 34 are H, producing a Lto inverter gate 37, this complementing second input to both gatesdetermines whether a deck or a cart will be started by the next tone.

Gate 43 will be H, selecting a deck to be started by the next tone,whenever either of its inputs are L. One input is the interrupt signalwhich is an externally applied signal L except when a cart is to bestarted. The other input comes from the output of gate 33. As discussedabove, gate 33 produces a L whenever the deck start bus is to be takenH. This means that gate 43 will output a H whenever a cart is not nextor when a deck is being started. Thus, once the deck start bus is takenH, an interrupt signal will not switch the output of gate 43 until thedeck start bus goes L, which will occur when the tone signal ends. Thisprevents the system from starting two machines from one tone which mustnot happen for reasons discussed earlier. Once the tone has ended,however, the interrupt signal will cause gate 43 to generate a L,inhibiting the deck start bus and applying a H via inverter gate 45 toone of the inputs to gate 34. The other input to gate 34 will go Hwhenever a machine is to be started, and the output of gate 34 will goL. This L is inverted by gate 37 to take the cart start bus H. When thetone ends the cart start bus goes L and the interrupt signal reverts toits L state, allowing the deck start bus to go H when a machine is to bestarted next.

Whenever a machine is to be started, gate 42 will apply a H to bothgates 33 and 34. This H is generated when the input to gate 42 is L.This occurs whenever both inputs to gate 41 are H since gate 41 willthen apply a L to gate 42. One input to gate 41 is H whenever thesimulator is not next, and the other is H during a tone. If either notone is present or the simulator is next, gate 41 has a H output and nomachine will be given a start command. The tone signal comes from gate40, which produces a H output when either of its inputs are L.

One input to gate 40 is tied to gate 39 and goes L when the normal tonesignal goes H. The other input comes from gate 50 and goes L wheneverthere are no machines running and the simulator is not operating. Thus,when gate 50 will cause the control device to start something whenevernothing is running. Since gate 50 generates a L until something actuallystarts, the internally produced tone signal generated by this gate willcause the control device to generate a start output until somethingactually starts.

This important gate goes L and gnerates the internal tone signalwhenever all three of its inputs are H. The first input to gate 50 comesfrom gate 25 which produces a H when its inputs are L, this occurringwhen both inputs to gate 24, which drives gate 49, are H. Both inputs togate 24 go H when neither a deck nor a cart machine are operating. Thefirst input comes from gate 19 to gate 24 and is H whenever the main busis H, that is, when no tape decks are operating. The second input comesfrom gate 18 which is H whenever no cart is running. This H occursbecause the input to gate 18 is L since there is no cart play sensesignal being received.

The second input to gate 50 comes from the. simulator and is H when thesimulator is notplaying. The third input comes from the stop control busand goes H when the stop control bus is H. This third input is neededonly when the'gate- 50 is causing a tape deck to be started.

"As explained before, the holdbus goes L when a deck is being startedand no deck was running prior to the start command. The stop controlbus, also as mentioned previously, will go L as soon as a deck startsand will remain L until the deck start bus goes L. When gate 50determines that nothing is operating and causes a deck to be started,the hold bus and the stop control bus will operate in the above manner.Until the stop 'control bus indicates that a deck has been started, gate50 will continue to cause the deck start bus to remain active. The holdbus must be active to prevent two decks from being started, as discussedearlier, since there is a delay between the output of gate 50 going Hand the deck start bus going low at all points.

In the situation where 'the deck normally next in the sequence is out oftape, that is, when it is sending a L tape sense signal back, thecontrol device will not at- :tempt to start it and will instead startthe machine after the empty machine. Referring to the timing diagram ofFIG. 4 (deck 2 to 3, 3 out of tape, etc.) it can be seen what happenswhen a deck, in this case deck 3, has no tape and is normally the nextmachine.

Deck 2 is in the play mode and is sending back a play signal (see FIG.4h). As discussed previously, deck 2 will generate a H sequence outsignal via its gate 9. This H signal is applied to the logic associatedwith deck 3, in particular to gates 8 and 10. The other input to gate 8comes from the collector of the tape sense transistor associated withdeck 3. Since deck 3 is generating a L signal, the respective transistorwill be off and its collector will apply a H to the second input of gate8. As indicated on FIG. 1, gate 8 is functioning in the AND mode andproduces a L output under the above conditions, namely that it isreceiving a H sequence input signal, indicating that the associated deckis to be next, and that this deck has no tape. This L signal is appliedto gates 9 and 10. Gate 9 is functioning as an OR device and will nowgenerate a H output. This H is applied, as previously discussed, to thenext deck in the sequence, namely deck 1. If deck 1 has tape, its gate 9will not go H. The H input to AND operating gate 10 will prevent itsinput from going L. Thus, deck 3 cannot be started when it does not havetape since only when gate 10 generates a L will deck 3 start. When thenext tone causes the deck start bus to go H, only deck 1 will bestarted. Similar signals will be generated any time a deck is to be nextand there is no tape on the deck. Another possible situation that mayoccur is that for any of a number of reasons, the machine that thecontrol device attempts to start does not actually start. In this case,the deck running prior to the tone will not be stopped which preventsthe control device from creating a situation where nothing is running.

Referring to FIG. 5, deck 1 was running prior to the tone. Deck 2 isnormally next and since it has tape, the control device will attempt tostart it on the next tone. The tone signal goes H and, since theinterrupt signal is L, the deck start bus goes H. Gate 10 in deck 2slogic will produce a L and deck 2 should start but as can be seen onFIG. 5, deck 2 does not start. The stop control bus will not go lowsince there are not two machines running and as a result no stop commandwill be issued to deck 1.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.

We claim as follows:

1. An automated broadcast programmer comprising:

a. a first machine which is adapted to play recorded information;

b. a second machine which is adapted to play recorded information;

c. a control means;

d. a first signal feedback means coupled between said first machine andsaid control means for indicating to said control means that said firstmachine is in a state to become operative;

e. a second signal feedback means coupled between said first machine andsaid control means for indicating to said control means that said firstmachine is operative;

f. a third signal feedback means coupled between said second machine andsaid control means for indicating to said control means that said secondmachine is in a state to become operative;

g. a fourth signal feedback means coupled between said second machineand said control means for indicating to said control means that saidsecond machine is operative, whereby said second and fourth feedbackmeans cause said control means to generate signals which induces theoperation of said first, or alternatively, said second machine.

2. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid recorded information is of an audio frequency.

3. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid recorded information is of a visual frequency.

4. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid recorded information has sequence signals recorded thereon.

5. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid first feedback means comprises first electrical signal producingmeans which indicates that said first machine has recorded informationfor reproducing and said second feedback means comprises secondelectrical signal producing means which indicate that said first machineis in the reproducing mode, and wherein said third feedback meanscomprises third electrical signal producing means which indicate thatsaid second machine has recorded information for reproducing and saidfourth feedback means comprises fourth electrical signal producing meanswhich indicates that second machine is in the reproducing mode.

6. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 4 whichfurther includes sequencing means,

said sequencing means causing only said first or alternately said secondmachine to become operative except during the presence of saidsequencing signal.

7. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 6 whereinsaid sequence means includes further means for stopping said firstmachine after said second machine has been started.

8. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 6 whichfurther includes a third machine and a fifth and sixth feedback meanscoupled between said last-mentioned machine and said control meanswherein said fifth feedback means indicates that said third machine isin a condition to become operative and said sixth feedback meansindicates that said third machine is operative,

said control means causing said sequencing means to activate said first,or second or third machine at all times,

said sequencing means causing only said first or second or third machineto be operative except during the presence of a sequence signal.

9. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 8 whereinsaid sequencing means includes further means and wherein said thirdfeedback means indicates that said second machine is not in a state tobecome operative and wherein said first and fifth feedback meansindicate that said first and third machines are in a state to becomeoperative and said second feedback means indicate that said firstmachine is operative,

said control means preventing said sequencing means from starting saidsecond machine after the initiation of said sequencing signal, therebycausing said third machine to be started and said first machine to bestopped upon the completion of said sequencing signal.

1. An automated broadcast programmer comprising: a. a first machinewhich is adapted to play recorded information; b. a second machine whichis adapted to play recorded information; c. a control means; d. a firstsignal feedback means coupled between said first machine and saidcontrol means for indicating to said control means that said firstmachine is in a state to become operative; e. a second signal feedbackmeans coupled between said first machine and said control means forindicating to said control means that said first machine is operative;f. a third signal feedback means coupled between said second machine andsaid control means for indicating to said control means that said secondmachine is in a state to become operative; g. a fourth signal feedbackmeans coupled between said second machine and said control means forindicating to said control means that said second machine is operative,whereby said second and fourth feedback means cause said control meansto generate signals which induces the operation of said first, oralternatively, said second machine.
 2. An automated broadcast programmerin accordance with claim 1 wherein said recorded information is of anaudio frequency.
 3. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said recorded information is of a visual frequency. 4.An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid recorded information has sequence signals recorded thereon.
 5. Anautomated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfirst feedback means comprises first electrical signal producing meanswhich indicates that said first machine has recorded information forreproducing and said second feedback means comprises second electricalsignal producing means which indicate that said first machine is in thereproducing mode, and wherein said third feedback means comprises thirdelectrical signal producing means which indicate that said secondmachine has recorded information for reproducing and said fourthfeedback means comprises fourth electrical signal producing means whichindicates that second machine is in the reproducing mode.
 6. Anautomated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 4 which furtherincludes sequencing means, said sequencing means causing only said firstor alternately said second machine to become operative except during thepresence of said sequencing signal.
 7. An automated broadcast programmerin accordance with claim 6 wherein said sequence means includes furthermeans for stopping said first machine after said second machine has beenstarted.
 8. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance with claim 6which further includes a third machine and a fifth and sixth feedbackmeans coupled between said last-mentioned machine and said control meanswherein said fifth feedback means indicates that said third machine isin a condition to become operative and said sixth feedback meansindicates that said third machine is operative, said control meanscausing said sequencing means to activate said first, or second or thirdmachine at all times, said sequencing means causing only said first orsecond or third machine to be operative except during the presence of asequence signal.
 9. An automated broadcast programmer in accordance withclaim 8 wherein said sequencing means includes further means and whereinsaid third feedback means indicates that said second machine is not in astate to become operative and wherein said first and fifth feeDbackmeans indicate that said first and third machines are in a state tobecome operative and said second feedback means indicate that said firstmachine is operative, said control means preventing said sequencingmeans from starting said second machine after the initiation of saidsequencing signal, thereby causing said third machine to be started andsaid first machine to be stopped upon the completion of said sequencingsignal.